Tommy (1975 Film)

During a 1971 concert performance, a seemingly relieved Pete Townshend announced that the event would mark the last performance of the Who's landmark rock opera Tommy. To paraphrase Adam West: "Poor, deluded boy." Over the ensuing decades, the mushrooming popularity of the Who's tour de force would inspire an all-stars-meet-the-London Symphony album (1972), a star-studded Ken Russell film epic/soundtrack (1975), a Broadway show (1992)--and become an enduring millstone around Townshend and the band's collective necks. But it was over-the-top auteur Russell who would give the morality tale of the deaf, dumb, and blind boy-cum-reluctant-messiah some of its most indelible pop-cultural iconography: Eric Clapton as High Priest; Acid Queen Tina Turner; Elton John in sky-high stack soles as the Pinball Wizard. The accompanying album is dutifully sprawling, a monument to Me Decade excess studded with loopy star turns (including the, er, "operatic" charms of Ann Margaret and Jack Nicholson), swelling choirs, and blustery synth fills. As he would later do to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, executive producer Robert Stigwood manages to turn one of rock's seminal achievements into something more artistically akin to the World Wrestling Federation, and every bit as musically subtle. It's no mean feat to virtually overwhelm the Who on their own record; Stigwood makes it sound like a vendetta. Still, it's an album so ambitiously bad it's but one William Shatner performance away from being a kitsch masterpiece. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Makes me want to go deaf

It's bad enough to have the poorly chosen actors trying to sing but to have insanely bad performances from the likes of Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend is unacceptable. What were they trying to do ? Dumb down to Jack Nicolson's singing ? At least Roger Daltrey sings the best of his career here. Really, he is the only reason to see the movie or listen to this tripe. Why and how did Pete manage to mangle 'Amazing Journey' and 'Sparks' so horribly ? And Clapton must have been going through withdrawals while singing 'Eyesight To the Blind.' Oh yeah - Elton does a great job. But skip this until the very end of your Who related purchases. Please. July 25, 2008

Excellent!

Pete Townshend's classic performed by The Who, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton Elton John, Ann-Margaret, and Jack Nicholson. Doesn't get much better than that! The movie is awesome too. April 18, 2008

This is NOT the original "TOMMY" masterwork, but is very good anyway!

First things first: (1) You're truly a Classic Rock fanatic, (2) You're a crazy Soundtrack collector, (3) You like classic Rock bands playing their best tunes with other Classic Rock monsters = You will love this album!

Certainly, it could appear quite strange to give a good comment on a Classic Rock masterwork (The Who's "Tommy" is a classic, no doubt about it!) on which the original composers/performers (i.e. The Who) play the tunes with other great musicians/performers (Elton John, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton are all here!). All together with non-musical superstars like Ann-Margret and Jack Nicholson...

The final product may sound a little bit 'eclectic', but it certainly will satisfy most of Classic Rock/Soundtracks fans! However, please be warned: if by any chance you get the European edition of this album (Dutch?), it may sound a little bit 'opaque' (just like if it had been recorded on a very old and sworn cassette tape). February 19, 2008

I got it for one song

Okay, I'll admit it, I had the LP back in the day and really don't care all that much for most of it, but I upgraded to a CD of it anyway just for one song. I love the film version of "Sparks" so much I couldn't help myself. What a trip! January 29, 2008

Solid, but lacks that speical something of concert production

I am not sure of Ann-Margaret and Oliver Reed were the best choice for Tommy, but they do bring lots of talent to the score.

Tina Turner and Jack Nicholson absolutely steal the show. If you need any reason to watch this film or listen to the soundtrack, it should be for Tina and Jack.

The film does not seem as dated as say the film version of Hair, but if it were refilmed today it would be amazing. July 25, 2007

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